[[folder: The Gatling Gun]][[quoteright:249:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gatlingwheels_5906.jpg]]''The'' original multi-barreled [[MoreDakka bullet-hose]], designed by Richard Gatling, the Gatling Gun was mounted on carriage wheels like a Cannon and fired by hand crank, and later, by electric motor. Gatling hoped the weapon would reduce the size of armies and serve as a deterrent by showing everyone how futile war would be with such destructive firepower. He did [[ExactWords reduce the size of the army the Gatling Gun was pointed at]] by a fair bit, but otherwise, the Gatling was simply added to the arsenal as the world's first Automatic weapon. Gatlings were originally replaced by single-barrel machine guns like the Maxim below, but Gatling-type weapons came back into their own when it was discovered that multiple barrels sharing the heat load could offer much ''much'' higher rates of fire and sustain them longer than any one machine gun could. Gatling's attempt to render war futile [[GoneHorriblyWrong instead birthed the progenitor of some of the deadliest weapons currently used to kill regular infantry]] and later, scaled-up versions that could do the same to ''tanks''. Oh and [[LoopholeAbuse the thing's legal for anyone with a gun permit to fire]]. You just have to afford one first.* '''Cool Action''' 9 times out of 10, the Gatling gun is shown as the Cranked version and every other "Gun" cranked is referencing this one.* [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 The Heavy's]] largest gun, the Brass Beast, is basically a ChainsawGripBFG version of the electric Motor Gatling Gun. It packs more firepower than the more modern miniguns, but is also slower to spin up, and slows the heavy down to an even slower crawl while shooting.* In ''Film/TheOutlawJoseyWales'', Josey's career as a wanted outlaw begins when, after witnessing the rest of his old Confederate unit being gunned down after being tricked into surrendering their arms, he commandeers one of the Gatling guns they used and uses it to wreak havoc on them in revenge.* The villainous drug dealer Kanryuu Takeda from RurouniKenshin bought the Cranked version of the Gatling gun from the black market and puts it in deadly effect after the duel between Kenshin and Aoshi had just ended [[spoiler: as Aoshi's fellow Oniwabanshu (Beshimi, Hyotoko, Shikiho and Hannya) [[HeroicSacrifice gave their lves to protect Aoshi from the deadly weapon]] and bought Kenshin some time to approach Kanryuu /spoiler]] The conclusion comes with slight differences: In the anime, one of Beshimi's tourniquette darts plugs into the ammo belt thus jamming the weapon while in the manga Kanryuu just ran out of bullets. [[KickTheSonOfABitch Kenshin then gives him his just desserts.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Maxim Gun]][[quoteright:269:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/maximgun_1244.jpg]]Literally the grand-daddy of them all, the Maxim was the first “True” machine gun that we would recognise. Developed by Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim, an American-born British inventor, whose attempts to make a fortune via invention in America early on failed until he was [[BeamMeUpScotty (allegedly)]] told that if he wanted to make money he should “Invent something to help those damn-fool Europeans cut their throats more efficiently”. He noticed that when a gun fired, it produced recoil, and rather than seeing this as a nuisance he realized that this could be used to force the spent cartridge out of the gun and load a new one. [[MoreDakka Over 600 times a minute in fact.]] At least one version allegedly had a rate of fire of [[NumberOfTheBeast 666]] rounds per minute, leading to the nickname "[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast The Devil's Paintbrush]]". So he made a water-cooled tripod mounted belt fed weapon and went to Europe and tried without much success to sell the idea. Then he came to Britain, where they had been having a spot of bother pacifying the natives in… [[UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire well in most of the world,]] and they liked the gun so much they knighted him. Suddenly the rest of the world decided they wanted the gun too. The Maxim became pretty much the standard machine gun of the world during the first world war with notable exceptions of America, where they decided that they were [[BystanderSyndrome never getting involved]] so [[TemptingFate they didn’t need to standardize machine guns]], and France and Austria-Hungary, where they insisted on using local designs (that were usually inferior but decent, aside for the [[ReliablyUnreliableGuns horrible Saint Etienne 1907]]). Italy also ended up without them (at least without many of them), but they ''had'' to adopt a more unreliable Italian design due to the Italian government failing to get the machine guns [[WhatAnIdiot they had already paid for]] due to the start of WorldWarI (note that the Italians also had another design comparable with the Maxim. Sadly, the guy who had designed the unreliable model was among the people assigned to choose the gun to replace the Maxim with, [[ForegoneConclusion with obvious results]]). The British went one further with [[OhCrap an improved version,]] the Vickers, which was used until the 70’s by Britain and the 90’s by other nations. This was mostly because it never broke: it could jam if the ammo fed into it was dud, and drills existed to get the duds out and the weapon firing again, but the gun itself was almost indestructible. In one 1916 test, ten guns of the 100th machine gun company fired one belt short of one million rounds in twelve hours, and only two guns encountered problems: all ten were serviceable again following basic maintenance. British soldiers did similar, impromptu "tests" just before the Vickers was finally retired, as a more fun way to dispose of the .303 ammo that no other weapon still in service used. Despite the guns having been used for decades, they held up just as well as in those early tests.* Anything set during the latter part of the British Empire, or any World War 1 setting for most nations. The Maxim should also appear in Russian WW2 works, and the Vickers in any work involving British or commonwealth forces for either world wars.* In ''Film/TheLastStand'', Johnny Knoxville's character Lewis Dinkum has a Vickers machine gun he dubs [[ICallItVera Vicky]]. [[Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger Sheriff Ray Owens]] borrows it for the defense of the town, where it sees action in the final shootout of the film.* In ''Film/TheWildGeese'', the titular mercenaries use a Vickers in their final confrontation with [[EliteMooks the Simbas]] towards the end of the film. * [[Wrestling/LarrySweeney "Sweet 'n' Sour" Larry Sweeney]]'s usual strutting routine included a spot where he would pretend he was firing one of these.* Featured in two ''Literature/{{Sandokan}}'' novels: in ''Sandokan Fights Back'' he brings one when he goes to take back his father's realm, and in ''Yanez's Revenge'' he comes to rescue Yanez with ''twelve''. Given his enemies were hordes of spear and knife-armed Dayaks in the first case and a badly-motivated force with few many knives and a few antiquated muskets, his enemies couldn't afford to face him in open battle.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Browning Automatic Rifle]][[quoteright:283:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/barlmg_6468.jpg]]Proof that even John Moses Browning's failures could still be incredibly successful, the BAR was originally designed as a "walking fire" gun, a WW1 concept for an automatic weapon that could be fired from the hip by a soldier crossing no man's land to support his comrades. However, the BAR ended up a bit ahead of its time. Chambered for the same .30-06 ammunition as standard-issue rifles, the weapon was too cumbersome and unwieldy for its intended application. (It would only be when "intermediate" cartridges appeared decades later for [[CoolGuns/AssaultRifles assault rifles]] that the original idea behind the BAR became feasible.) Being twice the weight of an M1 Garand and in post-1918 models almost ''thrice'' the weight of usual bolt-action rifles in .30-06; it was instead employed as a light machine gun, used to give the infantry squad additional firepower and range. Despite being widely adopted, it had a number of flaws as a support weapon; in particular, it lacked any facility for changing barrels quickly[[note]]aside from some of the later European versions that did have quick-change barrels, as well as pistol-grip stocks[[/note]] or accepting a belt feed, instead only able to use 20-round box magazines. On top of that it was too ''light'' a weapon to use in this role - controlling it while firing fully automatic was pretty difficult. This effectively made it a very heavy battle rifle rather than a true light machine gun. In spite of these shortcomings, it continued in service with the US military right into the Vietnam war, eventually being replaced by the M60; the US National Guard continued to use it into the 70s, and some countries continued to use the BAR all the way into the 1990s. The modern FN MAG/M240 is also based in part on the BAR's action, except flipped upside down and adapted to belt-feed using an [=MG42=]-derived top plate.* Anything set during World War 2 and featuring the US military is likely to include the BAR being hefted by a squad's automatic rifleman. In videogames, it's typically the period equivalent of a {{BFG}}.* It's also popular as a {{BFG}} in crime stories set in the first half of the twentieth century: TruthInTelevision, as a number of gangs famously used the weapon, most notoriously Clyde Barrow of Bonnie and Clyde, who used a shortened version stolen from a National Guard armory and found it was capable of shooting right through police cars. He was killed using a variant of the same weapon, the Colt Monitor.** The Colt Monitor had been a BAR with the barrel shortened to 18 inches, with no bipod, a small pistol grip, lightened to 6kg, and supposed to fire .30-06 in full automatic mode. The fact that firing .30-06 from the shoulder in full automatic with no way to help support a 6kg gun is a pretty bad idea [[ATeamFiring in regards to anything resembling accuracy]] [[RareGuns may be the reason only a handful were made]].** Some Marine units in WW2 found that Clyde Barrow's modification was a pretty good idea for jungle combat too, and made their own such alterations.* [[BrooklynRage Reiben]] is the designated BAR man of the squad in ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan''* Mooks in ''Film/TheRundown''.* WeaponOfChoice for CreepyTwins Hansel and Gretel in ''Manga/BlackLagoon'', though one must wonder how they're exactly able to fire it on full auto and stay on their feet.* Featured in ''VideoGame/LANoire'', most prominently in the case "Manifest Destiny."* ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDuty World at War]]'': In the mission "Hard Landing", your character starts with a BAR as his primary weapon, but you'll likely quickly run out of ammo for it and have to switch to something else.** Same for the original game's "Alps Chateau" mission. It's a rather useful weapon for the level, but you will run out of ammo eventually, as you're the only Allied soldier in the entire game who is ever given one.* Appears in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas: Dead Money'' as the Model D version chambered for .308 rounds. * Added in the Blue Sun mod for ''7.62 High Caliber'', with the recruitable mercenary [[VideoGame/JaggedAlliance Gus]] spawning with one. Like in real life, it's best used as a sort of heavy rifle rather than an LMG.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Lahti-Saloranta M26]][[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/m26gun_7475.jpg]]A light machine gun fed by magazine designed by Aimo Lahti and Arvo Saloranta (their only cooperative effort, as the men did ''not'' get along well) in 1926 for the [[FinnsWithFearsomeForests Finnish Army]], it was an example of GoneHorriblyRight, having the same qualities as the BAR and same limits of practical use. It was accurate like a rifle, had almost same ergonomics as a rifle due to a cleverly designed stock and grips, and looked cool as hell, yet it had only a 20-round magazine with no way to use belt feed. A 75-round drum mag was also developed, but never used in combat. Also, it took a long time to change the barrel, had a complex action which was an enormous pain to clean and would also jam within a very short time if ''not'' cleaned, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking spare magazines were heavy steel and hard to carry]]. The Finns needed a machine gun and got instead a very complicated rifle. While it was a highly accurate rifle, the Finnish soldiers' nickname for the M26 says it all: kootut virheet (assorted mistakes). It didn't help that Saloranta, when put in charge of the production of M26, made several unauthorized changes to the design that were intended to improve reliability but in practice did the opposite, so the weapon the Finnish Army got wasn't actually the one they'd chosen to adopt. This also exacerbated the existing feud between Saloranta and Lahti.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Degtyarev DP-28]][[quoteright:268:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dp28_8556.jpg]]The light machine gun of choice for the Red Army in WorldWarTwo. Just like the BAR and M26 above, it more or less is a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot machine-rifle]]. It has a distinct round horizontal-mounted pan (ie flat drum) magazine owing to the need to reliably fire the standard Russian 7.62x54R cartridge, giving it a very distinct look (and a significantly higher magazine capacity than box-fed machine guns, at 47 rounds). It also has exceptional reliability and a high tolerance for dirt, [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome in tests it fired even after being buried in sand and mud]]. It fired more slowly than competing designs, [[BoringButPractical but the reduced rate of fire eliminated the need for a changeable barrel]]. The Soviets built it in plenty of versions and issued it to infantry troops as well as fitting it to tanks, aircraft, even the sidecars of motorcycles. Many were captured by Finland during World War II (nearly 10,000 captured, compared to the 3,400 M26 machine guns they built themselves), enough that they simply stopped making the M26 and used the DP as their primary machine gun for the duration of the war and beyond. There are still some of them in service that were fired as recently as the 2011 Libyan Civil War and the 2001-present Afghanistan War. After WWII, the Soviets issued a conversion kit to enable the Degtyarev to be converted to a belt-feed; the resulting '''RP-46''' is a relatively rare sight and not particularly well-known. Nevertheless, it served as the standard light machine gun of the Red Army until replaced by the RPD.* Carried by many Soviet soldiers in ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates''.* Seen in many WW2-set video games that involve the Eastern Front, such as ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}} 1942'', ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty: United Offensive, Finest Hour'' and ''World at War'', and ''RedOrchestra: Ostfront 41-45''.* Added in the Blue Sun mod for ''7.62 High Caliber'', though said mod also makes 7.62x54mm ammo much less common due to removing the surplus of [[VendorTrash Obrez Mosins]] from the low-level spawn list.[[/folder]]

[[folder:[=MG42=]]][[quoteright:298:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mg42lmg_4905.jpg]]At the beginning of the Second World War, the Germans were mostly equipped with the [=MG34=]. While a truly excellent machine gun in its own right, the [=MG34=] was really ''too'' good; it was labour-intensive, expensive, and took a long time to manufacture. The [=MG34=] also proved to be less rugged than expected, due to the very tight design tolerances. This resulted in a total redesign being ordered with mass production as the primary goal, and the end product is widely regarded as one of the best machine guns ever designed. The [=MG42=] made extensive use of pressed and stamped steel parts to cut down on cost and production times, and used a recoil operated, roller-locked mechanism augmented by a gas recoil booster which increased both reliability and rate of fire; the resulting weapon was distinctly more rugged than the rather finicky [=MG34=]. The [=MG42=] remains one of the fastest-firing single-barrel weapons to not require external power, able to fire 7.92mm Mauser rounds at an average of 1,200 RPM. A true general-purpose machine gun, it could be used in the light machine gun role with a 50-round drum magazine and bipod, or the medium role with a tripod and belt feed. Its main drawbacks stemmed from the gigantic rate of fire; it was incredibly loud, barrel changes were frequent, though taking only 3-7 seconds thanks to a superbly designed quick-change barrel, and ammunition consumption was very high even when all efforts were made to conserve it. The huge rate of fire also made the gun's report extremely distinctive, described by troops who faced it as a buzzing or tearing sound rather than distinct individual shots, leading to nicknames like "Hitler's Buzzsaw". This had its advantages, as the noise was quite terrifying. The [=MG42=] was the basis of Germany's later machine guns following the war, from the [=MG1=] to the modern [=MG3=][[note]]one model, the [=MG2=], was in fact made from simply taking wartime MG 42's and converting them to 7.62mm NATO[[/note]], and along with the [=FG42=] was also the basis of the American M60. The US also attempted to make a .30-06 version of the [=MG42=] for testing, but [[WhatAnIdiot neglected to redesign the receiver to account for that round being 6 millimeters longer than the 7.92mm Mauser]] and [[TooDumbToLive didn't realize this was why the .30-06 conversion wouldn't cycle]]. The [=MG3=] is so similar (and externally almost identical) to the [=MG42=] that they have many interchangeable parts.* Every World War II game, movie, or otherwise, features this gun.* The [=MG3=] shows up as an unlockable weapon in the ''VideoGame/BattlefieldBadCompany'' games.* The BFG used by the Special Unit in ''Anime/JinRohTheWolfBrigade''.* Alphard tries to shoot down Liang Qi's chopper with a door mounted [=MG3=] from her own helicopter in ''Anime/{{Canaan}}''* The Helghast machine gun in ''VideoGame/{{Killzone}}'' is basically an [=MG42=] with the barrel shroud rotated 90 degrees anticlockwise.* The M56 Smart Gun in ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' was an [=MG42=] mated to a steadicam harness, with additional parts from a motorcycle.* ''[[Manga/GunslingerGirl Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino]]''. Rico fires the [=MG3=] version from the hip.* ''The Bunker'' (2001). Its ammunition apparently cost the makers of this war/horror movie a pound a round, so it wasn't fired often.* ''[[Film/CharliesAngels Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle]]'' features a nameless Mongolian who [[GunsAkimbo dual-wields]] an [=MG42=] together with a [=PKM=] machine gun from the hip.* A character in a ''ComicStrip/NickKnatterton'' comic has an [=MG42=] mounted ''on her bed''.* An [=MG42=] is used in ''VideoGame/MafiaII'' by Vito Scaletta twice. The first time during [[WorldWarII Operation Husky]], before later using one to ambush a heavily guarded target during a hit.* Available in ''7.62 High Caliber'' as the [=MG3=], with the accompanying high rate of fire and fitted with a 50 round drum and bipod.* Appears in ''VideoGame/{{PAYDAY 2}}'', as the [[AKA47 Buzzsaw 42.]] Its absurdly high fire rate is preserved rather well ingame.[[/folder]]

[[folder:M60]][[quoteright:330:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/m60machinegun_5355.jpg]]The M60 was introduced in 1957 as a replacement for the venerable Browning Automatic Rifle as a squad automatic weapon. Drawing on the designs of the [=MG42=] and [[RareGuns FG42]], the designers produced a 23-pound belt-fed general purpose machine gun chambered in 7.62mm NATO. The result is widely regarded as an rather poor weapon; the M60 is prone to jamming, has some alarming tendencies to fall apart[[note]]This is why the M60 was one of the few military weapons to actually get ''worse'' over its service life, rather than being improved. The guns literally beat themselves to death over time, which is why there were so many more complaints about it in the 80s and 90s than during the Vietnam War. That, and the fact that design changes to reduce its weight exacerbated the durability problems.[[/note]] or fail to stop firing when the trigger is released, features a terribly designed barrel change system (the entire gas piston, barrel, bipod and front sight having to be detached, and without the use of any kind of handle; instead an asbestos-lined glove was issued), and is just as heavy as the BAR, itself regarded as quite a hefty weapon. The M60 is also notable for being the only weapon for which the US Army designated the ''receiver'' (the main body of the gun, containing the moving parts) as a replaceable part; with every other gun a broken receiver meant the rest would be stripped for spare parts. The weight earned it the nicknames "pig" and "hog" in Vietnam, and attempts to reduce the weapon's weight resulted in the even ''less'' well-received [=M60E3=] version. In 2000, the [=M60E4=] was released, by which time advances in technology and manufacturing techniques allowed for noticeable improvements in both weight and reliability (rather than having to sacrifice one to improve the other as with the E3), but by then the weapon had mostly been phased out by the US military in favor of the M240 (a license-produced version of the FN MAG).[[note]]The only branch of the US military that still uses the M60 is the Navy Special Operations Forces, who favor the lighter weight and portability of recent versions compared to the larger, heavier M240. Most other branches are currently looking towards the Mk 48 Mod 0, a 7.62mm conversion of the Mk 46 (a system based on the below M249) which is still lighter and more reliable than modern M60 variants.[[/note]]In 2014, a further improved version, the [=M60E6=], was released, and subsequently adopted by the Danish Army as their new standard GPMG, replacing the Rheinmetall [=MG3=], so it seems that the M60's military career may not be over quite yet. Despite its troubled history, the weapon's brawny appearance and easy availability made it hugely popular in 80s and 90s action movies, with the depiction in ''Franchise/{{Rambo}}'' particularly iconic.* '''Cool Action:''' [[FiringOneHanded Firing the M60 one-handed]] is practically a trope of its own; gun in one hand, [[BottomlessMagazines three-foot belt of infinite ammo]] in the other, the ActionHero walks slowly through the enemy base, firing in the general direction of men who respond by [[BlownAcrossTheRoom falling over in increasingly exaggerated ways]]. Expect lots of closeups of the action ejecting brass, [[SpentShellsShower casings hitting the ground]], and slow motion shooting. Bonus cool points if the shooter is [[ScreamingWarrior bellowing incoherently at the top of his lungs]]. Often, the M60 will get more screentime in such a sequence than any of the villains. Or the hero's face, for that matter.* Both Creator/SylvesterStallone (as Franchise/{{Rambo}}) and Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger (in ''Film/{{Commando}}'') played one-handed shooting completely straight. Creator/CharlieSheen parodied it in ''Film/HotShotsPartDeux'' with scenes where he was buried up to his waist in ejected brass, and later one where {{mooks}} who died went down a set of playground slides.* Almost any movie set in UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar features the M60. You could also expect to see this used in action films until the '90s.* The M60 is still seen in some modern warfare movies such as ''Film/BlackHawkDown'', alongside the M240.* Jack Black's character is handed an M60 in ''Film/TropicThunder''. Black wasn't exactly pleased when told about the M60's nickname ("Pig") and that he was a natural with it.* ''Film/RedDawn1984''. Modified ones are used to simulate the Soviet [=DshK=]. One giveaway is that the ammo belt is feeding from the wrong side (the [=DshK=], like most Soviet belt-fed machine guns, feeds from the right side).* "The Passing" DLC for ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' adds the M60 as a special weapon. It cannot be reloaded - once it's out of ammo, it gets discarded. One of the later "Mutations" gives the entire team these with [[BottomlessMagazines infinite ammo]].* Naturally featured in ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}: Vietnam''. Pre-{{Nerf}}, it was an [[GameBreaker absolute terror]], being more powerful and accurate than the M16 with a 100 round magazine ''and'' it came with the same class as the only decent Anti-Tank weapon, meaning there was no real reason to take any other class except if you wanted to be a good sport. Post-Nerf, one needs to be prone if you want to hit anything and it no longer comes with the rocket launcher.** ''VideoGame/BattlefieldBadCompany 2'' features it in both the vanilla game and its own ''Vietnam'' expansion. It's Sweetwater's new WeaponOfChoice in the singleplayer campaign; one notable instance has him beat a Russian soldier across the head with it and throw him [[RailingKill over a railing]] without breaking stride after dismounting from a helicopter.* Available in ''7.62 High Calibre''. If you're standing or kneeling, it can only be fired "from the hip", and you must be laying down to aim it properly.* The flash-forward scenes in the fifth season of ''Series/BreakingBad'' show Walt purchasing an [=M60=]. [[spoiler:He rigs it up in his car's trunk to pop out and fire continuously.]]* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' has a gun simply called the Light Machine Gun, chambered in 5.56mm--notable for being the only vanilla gun using that cartridge to fire on full auto. It's actually a hybrid; the forward half from the foregrip onwards is iconic of the M60. The rear half from box magazine on back is M249, as noted below.* Most ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' games from ''[[VideoGame/ModernWarfare Call of Duty 4]]'' to ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps2 Black Ops II]]'' feature the [=M60E3=], always either referred to as the improved E4 version (''Modern Warfare'') or the original M60 (''Black Ops'').* Available in ''VideoGame/RainbowSix: Rogue Spear'' and ''Raven Shield''.* The only weapon to appear with its real name ''VideoGame/PerfectDark Zero''. Oddly, the usual belt-box is replaced by a belt of only 7 rounds that [[BottomlessMagazines somehow lasts for 80 shots without decreasing in length]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:FN Minimi/M249]][[quoteright:265:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/m249_7902.jpg]]Light machine gun that was developed for the U.S. Army as a squad assault weapon, to replace the M60. The M249 was developed from the FN Herstal Minimi (short for Mini Mitrailleuse; or [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Mini Machine Gun]]) light machine gun and fires the 5.56mm NATO round whose lighter weight allowed gunners to carry more ammo. [[MoreDakka A lot more ammo.]] The standard feed mechanism is a 200-round belt, with a plastic container for the belt clipped to the bottom of the gun (thus allowing the gunner to operate independently of a loader), and in a pinch it can also use standard NATO 30-round assault rifle magazines[[note]]Only variants older than the SPW have the STANAG magazine well; that type of magazine's springs cannot adequately account for the Minimi's high rate of fire, causing jams when not fired in very short bursts. The magwell was eventually deleted to save some weight.[[/note]]. The SOCOM Mk 46 variant has also been developed into a slightly larger 7.62x51 version, the Mk 48, to finally replace the [=M60E4=]. The Mk 48 is actually lighter with a 100-round belt than an M60 is with no ammo at all, and it's a more reliable gun to boot. Like its big brother, the FN MAG, the Minimi family was designed by Ernest Vervier.* The M249 gets its spotlight in modern warfare movies such as ''Film/BlackHawkDown''.* The Minimi is used and refered to by name in [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/109581/1/i-did-not-want-to-die/i-did-not-want-to-die I Did Not Want To Die.]]* ''VideoGame/BattlefieldBadCompany'' and ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}} 2''.* The M249 was the only available machinegun in ''VideoGame/CounterStrike'' before ''Global Offensive'' introduced the Negev, but is pretty useless for its price due to poor accuracy.* Some away teams in ''Series/StargateSG1'' and ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' have the Paratrooper configuration of the M249.* [[Film/{{Swordfish}} Gabriel Shear]] (Creator/JohnTravolta) keeps one of these in the boot of his [[CoolCar TVR Tuscan Speed 6.]]* ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}''. Kendra Shaw uses one in ''Razor'' when storming the Hybrid's vessel.* Used by Ty Lok and later Tequila himself in ''VideoGame/{{Stranglehold}}''.* Appears in ''VideoGame/{{Black}}''.* Another part of Homura Akemi's [[MoreDakka dakka-rich]] arsenal from ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''.* Available in ''7.62 High Caliber'' in several variants: the original Minimi, the Minimi Para (with a telescoping stock and short barrel), the SPW (a Para with rails for mounting optics), and the Mk 46 Mod 0 (covered in accessory rails). The Blue Sun mod, [[GunPorn of course]], adds some more variation.* Available in ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty 4'', both as an infantry weapon and a mounted gun. ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 3'' features the Mk 46[[labelnote:*]]actually an M249 Para with the Mk 46's rails, but same difference for the most part[[/labelnote]], this time solely as an infantry weapon, and ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps2'' has the Mk 48 in the same role.* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' and its hybrid LMG, mentioned above under M60, has the receiver, magazine, stock, and pistol grip portions of an M249.* When the military come to Aya's rescue in ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve2'', a few soldiers are seen using [=M249s=] when they take out almost 50 Golems at once. If you are on the True Ending path of the game, Aya can buy one of these from the requisitions officer right after this scene.* Used by Batou in the second ''Anime/GhostInTheShell'' movie to deal with some Yakuza thugs. * The M249 Para appears in ''VideoGame/{{PAYDAY 2}}'', as the [[AKA47 KSP]]. Attaching the Solid Stock and Railed Foregrip turns it into the Mk 46.* Relatively common in ''VideoGame/RainbowSix'', starting with an M249 E2 in ''Rogue Spear: Urban Operations''. The two ''Vegas'' games make the odd decision to feature both the Mk 46 and the SPW, but then give them the exact same stats and nearly the exact same model (only the handguard is different).* Appears in ''VideoGame/HalfLife Opposing Force'' as a useable weapon. Ammo for it is fairly rare for [[MoreDakka an automatic weapon]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:M2 Browning Machine Gun]][[quoteright:317:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/m2browning_9336.jpg]]One of the many weapons on this page passed down directly from God via John Browning, the M2 entered service just after WWI and has been the US military's principal heavy support weapon ever since. This .50 caliber 84-pound recoil-operated weapon, known affectionately as "Ma Deuce" during World War II, has been adopted by virtually every Western armed force and can be seen on everything from infantry tripod mounts right up to armoured vehicles, warships and aircraft. It is essentially a scaled-up version of the M1919 machinegun, another Browning design that used smaller caliber .30-06 rounds. The M2 has a rate of fire of 450-575 rounds per minute and sports a distinctive perforated sleeve over the lower barrel as an aid to air cooling; aircraft mounted versions exist with far higher rates of fire, the fastest being the mechanically or electrically boosted AN/M3 which could fire 1,200 rounds per minute. The weapon has an effective range of 1.2 miles when fired from the M3 tripod, and can put shots down over four miles away. During the Vietnam War, a Marine sniper by the name of Carlos Hathcock famously [[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f1TTfqxVUw4/TJgN7hKUcmI/AAAAAAAAByk/9zMoc_ZXn9M/s1600/50bmg914.jpg mounted a scope on one]] and used it for long-range sniper shots, leading to the later development of anti-materiel sniper rifles chambered in the same caliber. Efforts have been underway to develop a replacement with decreased weight and recoil, as the M2 is not exactly portable; candidates included the high-tech [=XM312=] and the [=XM806=], but both have been cancelled. As such, the M2 is likely to remain a common sight for the foreseeable future.* '''Cool Action''': Jumping behind one (typically mounted on a vehicle of some sort) and pulling back on the bolt with a massive ''CHACK-CHLACK''. Firing it with at least an angry grimace on your face, usually a [[ScreamingWarrior full-on scream]] which gets drowned out by the massive report. May involve pulling out or ignoring [[RedShirt the last guy who used it]]. [[LudicrousGibs Likely involves the utter obliteration of the guy]] [[DestructiveSavior or building]] you are firing at.* Seen in anything set after the First World War showing a Western armoured vehicle, ship, or fixed infantry position. Sci-fi movies sometimes use the M2 fitted with a military blank firing adaptor (a triangular fitting with a hemisphere muzzle and three tubes running the length of the barrel) as a futuristic weapon or ersatz gatling gun. The M2 is also often seen in movies dressed up as a hard-to-come-by Soviet heavy machine gun like the [=DshK=].* Every military game ever made that has armoured vehicles in it that don't suffer from CripplingOverspecialization. It's also a standard "big gun" in fixed positions; it's often [[{{Nerf}} made a lot weaker and less accurate]] for balance purposes. A superhumanly strong character might use an M2 like a rifle, and in this case usually grips it by the barrel; this is not a good idea, as it gets hot.* In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout Tactics|BrotherhoodOfSteel}}'', this shows up being used as a handheld machine gun used by Super Mutants. You can use it as well if you have incredible strength, PoweredArmor, or a MechaMook.* Roadblock from ''Franchise/GIJoe'' would swing one of these. A little [[LampshadeHanging lampshading]] is found on his bio-card, suggesting that the kind of guy who can use this as a personal weapon is someone who probably doesn't NEED a machinegun to kill you. The action figure actually gives him a Browning M1919 instead, simply to allow him to stand up without tipping over. After all, unlike the character, the plastic figure doesn't have SuperStrength.* Some of the fluff from ''TabletopGame/CarWars'' suggests that the M2 is still alive and well even in 2040s America; in-universe, someone used a combination of this and LoopholeAbuse to win a demolition derby, setting up the VehicularCombat genre among the people.* ''Doo-doot, doo-doot, doo-doot doo-doot, doo-doot''. This is the gun mounted on the convicts' Jeep in ''VideoGame/DeadRising''. If you manage to defeat them, you can take it and go zombie-hunting.* Pops up in ''VideoGame/FarCry2'', delightfully sidestepping the generic "stationary bullethose" depiction, having the properly slow RPM count and terrifying damage output.* Will and the ''Series/SonsOfGuns'' crew assemble a "virgin" (unbuilt) M2 kit and mount it on top of the War Wagon (Will's modified Ford Bronco).* ''Film/RamboIV'' accurately depicts the [[{{Gorn}} body-shredding]] ability of an M2 during a massive battle sequence toward the end of the film.* ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'' and its fan-made Source remake ''VideoGame/BlackMesa'' feature them as the Marines' go-to fixed gun, and (at least in the latter) it is ''powerful'' - a short burst can and will gib any human, Vortigaunt and Alien Trooper you hit it with. Strangely, however, it's more similar to the .30 cal M1919 when it comes to size and rate of fire (it's both considerably smaller and faster-firing than the M2, capping off at about 600 RPM).* ''Fanfic/FeatheredHeart'' gives us the griffons' perspective of their first encounter with one of these when [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Gilda]]'s squad and the US Marines they were escorting was forced into a "HoldTheLine" situation by the Cloven of The Sun. They're not on the business end of it, but that doesn't make it any less awe-inspiring: Cloven Elder Rams are heavily armored shock troops the size of vehicles, and known for being ''ridiculously'' hard to take out by the griffons; [[CurbStompBattle the M2]] '''[[CurbStompBattle shreds]]''' [[CurbStompBattle them in a matter of]] ''[[CurbStompBattle seconds]]''. Fortrakt, her subordinate and close friend, sums it up:--> '''Fortrakt:''' I want one of those.* It even appears in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}''. The Stubber or Heavy Stubber machine gun is basically an M2. In the grim darkness of the future, there is still John Browning.[[/folder]]

[[folder:[=DShK=] 1938]][[quoteright:319:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dshk1938_8651.jpg]]A collaborative effort between legendary Soviet gun designers Vasily Degtyaryov (who designed the [=PTRD=] anti-tank rifle and DP-28 machine gun) and Gegorgi Shpagin (designer of the [=PPSh=]-41), the ''Degtyaryova-Shpagina Krupnokaliberny'' is the Soviet equivalent to the M2 Browning. Introduced in 1938, the [=DShK=] was the heavy machine gun used by the Soviets in nearly identical roles to the M2 during World War II and onwards, such as an anti-aircraft weapon for tanks and trucks. It was also used in an iconic two-wheeled trolley equipped with a metal shield for heavy infantry support. In the 1970’s, it was largely replaced with the [=NSV=] and then later the Kord [=HMG=]’s. However, like many Soviet-era Russian weapons it was imported by a number of client states and produced under license, still seeing use in many of them. It has also been popular with insurgent forces, such as the Viet Cong and Provisional IRA. Russian troops nicknamed it "Dushka" (“Sweetie” or Dearest”) due to the similarity in pronunciation.* Used in many films that depicts Soviet or Soviet-allied forces, either a prop version of the real thing or a dressed up M2 or other large machine gun.* Used by John Franchise/{{Rambo}} in both ''Film/RamboFirstBloodPartII'' and ''Film/RamboIII'', captured and turned against Soviet forces in both films. ''Rambo II'' has a mocked-up M2, ''Rambo III'' has an interesting version: the [=DShK=] used by Rambo to shoot down the Hind is actually a [=DShK=], captured by the [[BadassIsraeli IDF]] in the ArabIsraeliConflict. But later on, when production was relocated, it became an M2 mockup.** The 1988 movie The Beast averts this, because whilst shot in Israel (with a Soviet tank, no less) the [=DShK=] is just a mocked up M2. Captured Soviet-made tanks were often refitted by the IDF with the M2.* The invading Soviets in ''Film/RedDawn1984'' have [=DShK=]’s mounted on their vehicles. Actually an M60.* R.U.F rebels mounted them on pickup-trucks in ''Film/BloodDiamond'', and so did the Somalis in ''Film/BlackHawkDown''.* The soldiers of Hotel Moscow use one mounted on a truck in ''Manga/BlackLagoon''.* Comes up twice in [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/90939/1/shell-shock/the-tower Shell Shock.]] The first time, they are mentioned in passing. The second time, the gun is used to massacre POW's. [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/kalash93 Kalash93]] loves his Soviet military hardware.* Appears every so often in ''VideoGame/{{Metro 2033}}'' and ''VideoGame/MetroLastLight'', where it's only seen as a mounted weapon, and for good reason, between extremely limited ammo and severe overheat. However, anything on the business end of the barrel is not long for this world or the next.[[/folder]]

[[folder:RPD]][[quoteright:273:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rpdlmg_2981.jpg]]The RPD is the world's first SAW, or Squad Automatic Weapon. It fires an intermediate caliber 7.62x39 round, the same as fired by the SKS, AK-47, AKM and many other such fine weapons. Developed near the end of World War 2 by Vasily Degtyaryov, and accepted into Soviet service in 1944. It saw limited use in the last days of WW2, though it has gone on to serve with distinction throughout the world.* Appears in ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 1'' and ''2''; it's gained some infamy as the weapon of choice for hackers, due to low full-auto recoil combined with the hundred-round belt. ''Black Ops II'' lets you use it in the 1980's missions, where, due to just reusing the ''[=MW2=]'' model, it has an anachronistic Picatinny rail above the feed tray.* The RPD is used extensively in stories by [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/kalash93 Kalash93.]]** Appears in [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/90939/1/shell-shock/the-tower Shell Shock]] in the hands of Equestrian peacekeepers.** Used in a flashback in ''FanFic/RacerAndTheGeek''.* Available in ''7.62 High Caliber'' as one of the earliest machine guns available.* Shows up in the twelth chapter of ''VideoGame/MaxPayne 3'' with an incorrect 75-round magazine. The [[BlingBlingBang gold version]] gives it the correct 100-round capacity.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bren Gun]][[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/brengun_1657.jpg]]The standard light machine gun of the British Empire and Commonwealth nations in WorldWarII, and remained in limited use all the way into the early 1990s and was kept in reserve until 2006. Easily recognized by its distinctive top-mounted removable box magazine, the Bren was adapted from the less common Czechoslovak ZB vz. 26, with the main alteration being chambering it to the standard .303 British round. The name "Bren" is a contraction of "Brno" (where the Czechoslovak original was developed) and "Enfield" (where the British version was adapted). It's clear that the designers had paid attention to the BAR's shortcomings in the squad support role, as they made sure to include a quick-change barrel. While it was still magazine-fed instead of belt-fed, it used larger 30-round magazines and the top-mounted magazines were much quicker to change, especially when firing prone. After WW2, the Bren was redesigned to use the 7.62 NATO round, and this version could use the same magazines as the [[CoolGuns/BattleRifles FN FAL]].* Every WorldWarII movie involving a British or Canadian force of at least squad size will have at least one of these present.* One mook in ''LockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrels'' carries one on the raid of the drug den. Turns out to not only be AwesomeYetImpractical (and this is lampshaded) but its user gets HoistByHisOwnPetard when he leaves it unattended.* Appears in the various ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' games set in World War II, since the various games have British-focused missions and the Bren gun is easily recognizable due to its top-loading magazine.* Referenced in the refrain by Noel Coward in his song "Could You Please Oblige Us With A Bren Gun," managing to be both patriotic yet satirical of the notoriously underfunded quartermaster corps. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnFO5l63BGI It's quite a catchy tune besides]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:FN MAG]][[quoteright:225:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fnmag_1847.jpg]]The MAG (Mitrailleuse d'Appui Général; French for [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin General-Purpose Machine Gun]]) general purpose machine gun which has seen usage in too many countries to list here. Generally regarded as ''the'' general purpose machine gun, it can be used for infantry support (though it's very heavy for this role, being 3 pounds heavier than the already hefty M60) or mounted on tanks, [=APCs=] and ships. One unusual aspect of its design is that the safety can only be engaged when the weapon is cocked. Hollywood tends to gloss over this one in favour of the M60 or M249 mainly due to the fact that the US uses the MAG ([[AKA47 as the M240]]) mainly in the vehicle mounted role. As noted above, it's partially derived from the BAR with a trigger and feed mechanism based on the [=MG42=]. The MAG's designer Ernest Vervier was the protege of [[CoolGuns/BattleRifles FAL]] and [[CoolGuns/{{Handguns}} Hi-Power]] designer Dieudonné Saive, who in turn was a protege of John Moses Browning. Despite its incredibly widespread use, in fiction you'll usually only see it on top of a tank.* '''Cool Action''': Once the belt is loaded, the user slaps down on the loading gate, karate chop style. This is a recommended way to load the weapon.* Used in ''Film/RamboFirstBloodPartII'' mounted on Soviet vehicles, even though it really shouldn't be.* Turns up in ''Film/BattleLosAngeles'' mounted on vehicles all over the place.* The first light machine gun available in the multiplayer of ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 2''. Strangely, despite firing a bigger bullet than the others, [[ArbitraryGunPower it is statistically the weakest LMG in the game simply because it's the first one available]].* In ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield 3}}'' is available as support class unlock in multiplayer. While not usable in single player, it can be seen in the hands of Montes. Also one of the options for coaxial machine guns for US [=M1A2=] tanks, LAV-25 IFV, and M1128 tank destroyer. Strangely absent in the normal light vehicle mounted role, most US vehicles have the M2 Browning mounted instead.* Added in the Blue Sun mod for ''7.62 High Caliber'' as a sort of big brother to the Minimi.* Used to perform the eponymous ''Animation/WaltzWithBashir'', a CrazyAwesome Israeli soldier wildly firing one into the streets of Beirut under a massive portrait of Lebanese president Bashir Gemayel. * Trench Mauser and Yin Yang fire one each from a helicopter during their BigDamnHeroes moment at the climax of ''Film/TheExpendables 3''.[[/folder]]

[[folder:General Electric [=M134=] Electric Gatling "Minigun"]][[quoteright:288:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bulletrotatingcannon_7426.jpg]][[GatlingGood The weapon that inspired a trope in and of itself]], the [=M134=] is a belt fed, electrically-driven air-cooled six barrel machine gun firing the 7.62x54mm NATO round at a staggering [[MoreDakka 2,000 to 8,000]] RPM. Despite what Hollywood might like to think, the [=M134=] is exclusively a crew-serviced weapon, typically mounted on helicopters but can also be mounted on boats and other land vehicles. The action of the [=M134=] is driven by an electrical motor and spins the six closed-bolt barrels in a circular housing. As the barrels rotate, one fires its round while two others are in stages of shell extraction and the rest are being loaded. This allows the gun to have its insane firing rate without running into the overheating problems a single barrel would encounter. Oddly enough, the high firing rate also makes the gun extremely accurate, which makes it especially good at suppressing a target or just [[LudicrousGibs tearing it to pieces]].

The [=M134=] is an offshoot of the rotating barrel cannons the U.S Air Force had for its fighter aircraft. During UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, transport helicopters encountered stiff resistance from North Vietnamese Army soldiers firing machine guns and RPG's from the dense jungles. Helicopter crew-serviced weapons, which at the time consisted of single-barreled weapons such as the M60, could not put down the volume of fire required to suppress enemy positions without overheating or jamming and leaving their vehicles even more vulnerable. General Electric designers then took the rotating barrel cannon designs and scaled them down to serve as crew-serviced weapons. The resultant weapon was called the [=M134=] and the men who used them quickly took to calling it a [[FanNickname minigun]], since it was a miniature version of those rotating cannons. Since then, the [=M134=] has been a staple of U.S Military service, deployed on transport helicopters, attack helicopters, [[GunshipRescue fixed-wing gunships]] and brown-water navy boats. The U.S Air Force uses their own versions of the [=M134=], the '''GAU-2/A''' and the '''GAU-17/A''', distinguishable by a barrel shroud on the front of the barrels. A similar weapon was developed by the Soviet Union, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GShG-7.62_machine_gun the GShG-7.62]] for the [=Mi-24=] helicopter gunship and sees use today in helicopter hard point-mounted gunpods.

Naturally, the [=M134=] is just [[RuleOfCool too damn cool]] not to show up in a great many films and video games. Of course, they like to take certain liberties with how it is portrayed. While it shows up plenty of times bolted to a helicopter or SUV, they also put it in the hands of their heroes as a hand-held weapon. Doing this in real life would require you to lug a backpack the size of a VW Bug full of heavy bullets and a couple of car batteries around and would knock you on your ass with a quick burst. Those don't belong here, check out the RareGuns page for examples there.* '''Cool Action''': "Spooling", the term often times used when the barrels of the minigun begin to spin. Although in reality a minigun requires very little if no build up to fire, in fiction they often take a second or two to "warm up", often accompanied by a building whine [[NoisyGuns and lots of metallic clicking and clacking noises]]. Cut to the protagonists or antagonists putting on their best OhCrap face. Note that the larger weapons that the Minigun was based on, such as the M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon, do take a few seconds to spin up, which can cause problems when used against fast moving targets (such as fighter planes or, in the case of AntiAir applications, anti-ship missiles). In practice, this just means the first few shots are slower than the following ones. * In ''Film/IronMan2'', one of War Machine's [[WalkingArmory many, many weapons]] is a shoulder-mounted GAU-17/A. While super-strong PoweredArmor can certainly support the weight with no problem, Rhodey seems to have [[BottomlessMagazines an implausibly large store of ammo for it]]. [[SmallNameBigEgo Justin Hammer]] also shows off a Vietnam-era [=M134=] when he's showing what weapons he's going to put into the War Machine armor.* Batman uses a specially modified [=M134=] to perform a forensic examination on a few pistol bullets used by the Joker in ''Film/TheDarkKnight''. * Mounted on several of the competition vehicles in ''Film/DeathRace''.* Shows up as a robotic sentry gun in ''Film/AloneInTheDark2005'' during the climatic fight with the [[SpecialEffectsFailure dreaded CGI Demons]]. * In addition to the more famous handheld one seen later in the film, the post-apocalyptic opening of ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'' shows [[LaResistance a Tech-Com soldier]] firing one from the back of a pickup and a short-barreled one is seen on a mount next to Future!John Connor.* One with almost adorably-small barrels is fired on a mount in a van in ''Film/LastActionHero'' and another can be seen mounted on a helicopter.* An [=M134=] stands in for a [=YakB=] 12.7mm gun in the film's faux Hind-D in ''Film/RamboIII''.* One of the very first film appearances of the minigun is in an [[GunshipRescue AC-47 "Puff The Magic Dragon"]] in ''Film/TheGreenBerets''.* They show up plenty of times in the ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'' series, mostly mounted on transport and attack helicopters.* GAU-17/A miniguns are mounted on UH-60 Blackhawk and AH-6 Little Birds in '''Film/BlackHawkDown''. One of the scenes in the movie features U.S Army Rangers trying to take cover from the large amount of spent shell casings raining down on them from one of these.* A black version with a [[ChainsawGripBFG Chainsaw Grip]] and a ''huge'' cylindrical magazine mounted on the side is the Heavy's stock primary weapon in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2.''* Appears in ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'' as the [[AKA47 Vulcan Minigun]]. True to form, [[AwesomeButImpractical its rate of fire is truly absurd, giving it a huge damage output, but it has abysmal accuracy, the police don't carry ammo for it (necessitating the use of ammo bags)]], [[CaptainObvious and it has a few issues with concealment.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:The Lewis Gun]][[quoteright:271:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lewisgun_2000.jpg]]The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_gun Lewis Gun]] was a light machine gun -- possibly the first LMG -- designed in the USA, and given to Britain at the start of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. It continued being in service all the way up to the Korean War. It's easily recognized by the drum Magazine on top, holding 47 or, for airplanes, 97 rounds of normal .303 Lee-Enfield rifle ammunition, and the massive, tubular cooling shroud that cooled the gun via air. The Lewis Gun was made the US Army Colonel Isaac Newton Lewis, hence the name "Lewis Gun." However, the US Army did not actually adopt the gun -- instead, General Crozier, since he disliked Colonel Lewis, [[WhatAnIdiot made the Army use the utterly terrible Chauchat, which often jammed after firing four rounds.]] Lewis became very frustrated from trying to persuade the Army, so he resigned and went to Belgium, and later, the UK. In 1913, the Belgium Army adopted the Lewis Gun, and the British Army agreed to manufacture it in 1914. Colonel Lewis became very rich from the manufacturing profits. When World War I began, the Lewis Gun was issued to many infantry soldiers, and later, the Royal Flying Corps. The gun was quite light -- light enough to be carried by one man -- and reliable. It fired fast, and although it was hard to reload (due to the drum magazine), the British Army loved it enough for it to be used throughout the entire war. In 1917, the US Marines and Navy adopted the design. In UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, all three British services used it, along with the Home Guard alongside the Bren Gun.

In media, there are often two types - the [[http://www.imfdb.org/images/1/15/Lewis_gun.JPG Infantry version]], which has the large air cooling shroud and a 47-round pan magazine, and an [[http://www.imfdb.org/images/5/5a/Rafmachinegunlewis3.jpg aircraft one]], which has a 97-round pan magazine and no air cooling shroud, exposing the barrel.

'''Infantry Version:'''* Name any WWI book or movie, and chances are they'll mention or show this gun. If you see any WWI flyboy movie, they'll have one of these equipped.* The T-21 repeating blaster in ''Franchise/StarWars'' is made from a Lewis Gun with a handful of sci-fi embellishments (surprisingly few actually, as the Lewis looks quite cool as is) and the magazine removed.* In ''Theatre/RichardIII'', the 1995 version features Ian McKellen grabbing one and trying to shoot down one of Prince Harry's planes with it.* Used quite memorably in ''Film/{{Passchendaele}}.''* ''Film/GangsterSquad:'' Used by one of Cohen's thugs to attack the Squad's car.* In ''Series/YoungIndianaJones'', the episode "The Phantom Train of Doom" has Indy using the gun from atop a hot air balloon.* Used by Rourke in ''Film/AtlantisTheLostEmpire''.* One of the weapons in ''VideoGame/CallOfCthulhuTheWastedLand.''

'''Aircraft Version:'''* Appears in ''Film/{{Wings}}'', in the hands of a WWI Cadet American Airman.* Used by Rick and Ardeth in ''Film/TheMummy1999'', to shoot Imhotep's massive sandstorm face.* Seen in ''Film/{{Flyboys}}''.* A Japanese copy, the [[http://www.imfdb.org/images/e/e7/Type_92_IJN.JPG Type 92]], is seen in ''Film/PearlHarbor.''* The Lewis Guns bring down Kong in ''Film/KingKong2005''.* [[NewspaperComics/{{Peanuts}} Snoopy]] mentions them at times as being the weapons of his Sopwith Camel. [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Iy-QvX1qv0E/S9Tnv22Y8lI/AAAAAAAAG98/QUPxzklAqnw/s1600/peanuts.jpg He also owns an actual one]].[[/folder]]----